Half to g



(No Model.)

' M. W. HUPFAKER.

FENCE POST.

No. 328,946. Patented 0ct.27,1885.

.dttorneys 'UNITED STATES PATENT Enron.

MILEs W. HUFFAKER, 0 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR or oNE- HALF TO 0.H. FLoUENoY, OF SAME PLACE.

FENCE-POST.

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,946, dated October27, 1885.

Application filed May 16, 1885. Serial No. 165,746. (No model.)

To all whom it may concer Be it known that I, MILE W. HUFFAKER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county ofKnox and State of Tennessee, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fence-posts; and it has for its object toconstruct a device of this character wedge-shaped in form, so as to bedriven in the ground with a hammer or sledge, and thus avoid thenecessity of boring a hole to receive the post, as formerly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fence-post which willbe held firmly in position while in use, which cannot turn in its seat,and which will be securely braced and steadied in place while attachingthe fence-wire or boards thereto.

With these ends in view the said invention consists in certain detailsof construction and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter setforth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing myimproved fencepost fitted in the ground, with fence-wires attached inposition, and also showing the manner of securing boards or plank to theposts when a board or rail fence is being constructed. Fig. 2 is adetail perspective view of a fencepost, the wires or rails beingdetached therefrom. Fig. 3 is a detail View of a clamp-bolt used inattaching the rails to the face of the post. Fig. 4 is a sectional Viewthrough one of the seats for the wires, showing the wedge fittedthereinto hold the wire tight. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower portionof the ost.

Like letters are used to indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a fiat bar of wrought-iron ofany suitable length, width, and thickness, having its lower end,beginning at the point designated by the letter a, tapered or beveledinwardly on its front and rear faces, forming a flat point, I).

O O designatefoot-braces attached. to each side of the bar A at thelower end thereof. These braces consist of two arms, d d, the upper arm,d, being welded to the side of the bar or postA adjacent to the point'a,and extending outward at an angle thereto, and an arm, d, extending fromthe other end of the arm d inwardly on an inclined line, so as to comein contact with the post or bar A. at the lower extremity thereof, whereit is welded in the usual manner. The inner or lower ends, 6, of thearms d have one face made flat to fit the side face of the post or bar,so that in welding the parts together a firm connection is effected, andtheir front and rear faces tapered or beveled off to'correspond with thetapered lower end of the bar or post A.

It will be observed that since the braces O are arranged on a line witheach other on opposite sides of the bar or post A, and have their lowerbeveled ends, 6, coinciding with the pointed lower end of said post, thelatter, in connection with the braces, forms a wedgeshaped point bywhich the parts may be driven into the ground without the necessity ofdigging or boring a hole, as formerly. In this manner the fitting of thepost in position is expedited and performed with greater ease andfacility. The upper arm, d, has its front and rear faces beveleddownwardly, as shown, to a cutting-edge, f, and the arm d iscorrespondingly beveled outwardly to form a cutting-edge, 9, thesecutting-edges f g penetrating the ground and thus facilitating theinsertion of the posts. The point of junction between the arms d d isrounded, as at t, and forms the greatest width of the braces, andconsequently receives the strain which comes upon the post.

D designates a series of transverse rectangular slots provided along thefront face of the post or bar A, and forming seats for the wires of thefence. Slots is are formed through the front face of the post, so as tocommunicate with the slots D near the center thereof, and thus allow theintroduction of the fencewires through the small slots into the largetransverse slots D. When in position, the wires E rest on the bottomwall of the slots D, and a wedge-shaped block, F, is inserted throughthe slots above the wires after they are stretched, so as to clamp thelatter in their seats and hold them from working loose. Any number ofthese slots or seats D may be pro vided along the face of the bar orpost A to accommodate any desired number of lengths or strands offence-wire. In Fig. 1 I have shown a section of a fence consisting ofthree 5 strands of wire arranged along the length of the posts, and arailing or plank, G, fitted to thetop thereof. A clamp-bolt, H, (seen inFig. 3,) is passed transversely across one side face of the post A, andhas its rear end bent around the same, as at Z, and then inwardly, as atm, forming a rectangular portion to clasp the rear end of the post. Thefront end of the clamp-bolt is threaded, as at n, and is passed througha hole of the plank G, the threaded end extending out therefrom andreceiving a nut, p, which binds against the plank and holds it firmlyagainst the front face of the post. In this manner the wooden planks orrails may be secured to the iron posts without the necessity of drillingholes through the latter, and at the same time the planks or rails aredetachably and readily fitted in place, so that when they becomeworthless they may be replaced by new ones in a very short time.

I designates an iron brace having its upper end inserted through orotherwise secured in the post A, and inclined downwardly, and having itslower end turned at an angle, as at q, this flattened end penetratingthe ground, so as to secure the brace therein.

It will be apparent that by my construction of'posts I am enabled to fiteither wires or rails thereto. In this manner. the owner may erecteither a wire or a rail fence, or he may construct one combining both ofthese materials. v It will be observed that by constructing thefoot-braces C flat on the front and rear faces, 40 and with theirgreatest width at the right angular turn or point of junction of thearms d (1, said braces will serve to steady the post and prevent thelatter from turning while stretching the wires, and will also hold thepost from turning while in use. The braces I, which may be arranged oneither one or both sides of the post, hold it frommoving either way. Bymy improvements I provide a post which will be strong and durable inuse, is readily inserted in the ground, and will always remain in avertical position.

Having described my invention, I claim '1. The bar or post A, having thebraces secured thereto, said braces comprising the outwardly-extendedarm d, having the horizontal inner cutting-edge, f, and theinwardlyextending arm (1, having the inclined outer cutting-edge g, asset forth.

2. The bar or post A, having its lower end pointed, in combination withthe foot-braces secured to the sides thereof and having their lower endspointed and arranged on a line.

with the pointed lower end of the post, said braces comprising the upperarm, d, and the lower arm, 01, the arm at having the cuttingedge f, andthe arm d having the cuttingedge 9, for the purpose set forth.

3. The bar or post A, in combination with the braces secured thereto,and comprising the upper outwardly-inclined arm and thedownwardly-inclined arm, said arms being set at an angle to each otherand sharpened to form cutting-edges, the lower end of the braces beingbeveled, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myown I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILES W. HUFFAKER.

Witnesses:

G. L. MALONEY, J. M. HOWELL.

